Re: Asylum seeker?

: : : What is an "asylum seeker"? Is this like an "after-school
program"?

: : : From BBC News online:
: : : "He (Prince Charles) spoke to local children who regularly
use the centre and then met young asylum seekers from the centre's
art project who performed a rap and dance routine about drugs, violence
and the need for peace in communities. The project is run by the
Prince's Trust and involves about 40 children, many of them asylum
seekers."

: : this really invites a bit of irony, but I will refrain.
: : On the basis that this is a genuine enquiry (shame on you if
it isn't) - an "asylum seeker" is a person who arrives in another
country claiming that they require temporary safety because they
fear violence will be used against them in their native land.
: : "Asylum" is expected to be granted only until it is safe for
that person to return to their native land.
: : It is also at present falsely claimed by many economic migrants
who do not wish to apply for entry to a country through the regular
channels.
: : False asylum seekers are causing prejudice to genuine ones in
the UK at present.

: It was genuine. I'm familiar with people from other countries
seeking asylum. But this was about neighborhood children. Does it
mean the children are seeking asylum from the drugs, etc., in their
community?

No. The article draws a distinction between local children and
"young asylum seekers". The Centre mentioned obviously caters to
both. However, given that both types of children must live in the
neighbourhood, one might well argue that "local" is being used confusingly
in this case.